Finally, a gun-smart character in a horror film ("They Live" by John Carpenter)

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MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

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Minor spoiler, ruins one scene but not whole plot.










I'm just at the beginning of this 1988 film, starring Roddy Piper. It's actually pretty good thus far. But I had to laugh out loud to finally see someone in a (semi) horror film doing what THR folks always suggest.

The hero has stumbled onto a dark, sinister conspiracy by sheer accident, and is confronted by two policemen, who he realizes are part of the conspiracy and out to silence him.

The unarmed hero takes out the cops with some nice Line Training moves, grabs the first evil-cop's sixgun, caps them both, runs to the patrol car, grabs their shotgun, and takes off.

After so many predictable "protagonist gets drop on villains, immobilizes them, and runs away empty handed like a frightened bunny", it's great to see a character seize the first opportunity to gear-up.

I'm liking the film thus far, seems to have some good libertarian-esque messages about authority, lack of strategic situational awareness, etc.

-MV
 
White Horseradish said:
And it's got the best line:
"I have come to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubblegum..."
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OMG! I have to see that movie now! I only knew that line from Duke Nukem but always wondered where it came from. Now I know...
 
They Live is one of the best B horror movies ever made!

Full of great stuff, lines and as said the most amazing fight scene of all time.

It and 'The Hidden' rank as my favorite SHTF movies. Buy 'em, you'll love it.
 
The resistance organization in "They Live" was totally inept. Their operational security was pathetic. Since they didn't use a cell structure organization, once someone was on the inside, everyone was exposed. Combine this with their lack of screening of potential members and it's no wonder the government/aliens rolled them up in the end. I loved the movie, but even back then I knew I could have done a better job running a resistance movement.

Now, the resistance on "V" had their **** together. Yeah, the show was kinda cheezy, but they showed how the resistance would have to deal with spys and traitors.

You guys can all plan on fighting Zombies if you want. Me, I'm getting ready for when the Lizard Aliens show up. Sure, laugh now, but when the aliens are stealing our water and fattening us up for slaughter, I'll be ready....(Sorry, I think my tinfoil hat is a little loose today)
 
Wel, then you will be happy to know that the reator of "V" is getting another shot at it. Supposedly the TV studio wants to "re-make" the original (chronologically updated probably) then move on with new stuff.
 
I want a pair of Roddy's sunglasses....:p

I like when he first puts them on....

"You, you're ugly." And the lizard-people start talking into their wristwatches...;)

The ending sequence with the lizards exposed, some in 'compromising' situations is hilarious.

"V" was great too, especially Mandy Patinkin giving birth...:p

As for alien invasion series' I liked "Earth:Final Conflict":)
 
MatthewVanitas said:
I'm liking the film thus far, seems to have some good libertarian-esque messages about authority, lack of strategic situational awareness, etc.
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It seems good so far, but there's one line that ruins the movie for me.
 
MTMilitiaman said:
OMG! I have to see that movie now! I only knew that line from Duke Nukem but always wondered where it came from. Now I know...
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You can find most of the other Duke Nukem lines in "Army of Darkness" with Bruce "Don't Call me Ash" Campbell.
 
You guys can all plan on fighting Zombies if you want. Me, I'm getting ready for when the Lizard Aliens show up. Sure, laugh now, but when the aliens are stealing our water and fattening us up for slaughter, I'll be ready....(Sorry, I think my tinfoil hat is a little loose today)
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Lizard Aliens - You aren't referring to the Posleen are you? OH GAWD! NOT THE POSLEEN!!! :what:

Aside:Anyone that wants to read sci-fi war fiction written by a gunnie should read John Ringo's posleen books. Great stuff.
 
the aliens are here

they have been eroding our will to fight back and changing our history to deny us the means to fight back.
Sarah Brady is their leader!:evil:
 
Justin, John Carpenter is still the king. :)

Watch the Thing. I'm a connesieur of B movies, and that one still blows my mind, all these years later.
 
The unarmed hero takes out the cops with some nice Line Training moves, grabs the first evil-cop's sixgun, caps them both, runs to the patrol car, grabs their shotgun, and takes off.
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I thought he had the sunglasses by then and only shoots the alien cop.

:confused:
 
Werewolf said:
Lizard Aliens - You aren't referring to the Posleen are you? OH GAWD! NOT THE POSLEEN!!! :what:

Aside:Anyone that wants to read sci-fi war fiction written by a gunnie should read John Ringo's posleen books. Great stuff.
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Ok, I just cleaned my nasal cavaties w/pepsi. Not fun.

I somehow don't recall the Posleen being particularly subtle about how they invaded.... :evil:
 
He does indeed have the sunglasses by then, but I believe both cops were aliens. IIRC, he knocks down both alien-cops, disarms the first alien-cop and shoots him while he's on the ground, then when the second starts to get back up, shoots him too.

Are you thinking of the scene later on where Nada (Roddy) runs into an alleyway, is confronted by a human cop, and orders the human-cop to drop his revolver and leave?

I am still waiting for VirgilCaine's disliked line; I think I know what he's referring to.

The film did get pretty silly in places: a multi-planetary, multi-dimensional alien race has enslaved the Earth, and yet the broadcaster that sends out their brainswashing signal is just sitting out in the wide-open on top of an office building? No rent-a-cops standing on the roof? No backup devices? So lightly armored that a .38 shot destroys it? Not quite as savvy as they appeared to be...

-MV
 
MatthewVanitas said:
I am still waiting for VirgilCaine's disliked line; I think I know what he's referring to.

The film did get pretty silly in places: a multi-planetary, multi-dimensional alien race has enslaved the Earth, and yet the broadcaster that sends out their brainswashing signal is just sitting out in the wide-open on top of an office building? No rent-a-cops standing on the roof? No backup devices? So lightly armored that a .38 shot destroys it? Not quite as savvy as they appeared to be...
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It was a pretty tall office building, and they do have pretty firm control of the world.

.38? And I thought the holdout gun in his sleeve was an autopistol?
I thought the black guy had the revolver.

Why the biker guy was standing out front of the rebel hideout with a shotgun without the sunglasses is the crazy part..

The one line was what that rebel leader said--"Free enterprisers..." Yeah, right.
 
He does indeed have the sunglasses by then, but I believe both cops were aliens. IIRC, he knocks down both alien-cops, disarms the first alien-cop and shoots him while he's on the ground, then when the second starts to get back up, shoots him too.
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IIRC, one cop is alien, and one is human. Of course, the human doesnt know his partner is alien because he doesnt have the special glasses.

Piper has the dicerning glasses, so he shoots the alien cop. He recognizes the partner as human, so he tells him "beat your feet" and the human cop runs off like a striped a** ape.
 
Can't argue there. Ghosts of Mars didn't exactly leave me awestruck. Though I did like Vampires, but that is because I'm a sucker for monster hunting. ;)
 
they live is one of the most memorable movies ever made, and contains both one of the best lines in movie history (i have come here, etc), and one of the best last lines.
 
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